Complaint Procedures
Maine citizens who have knowledge of individuals advertising for or performing arboricultural work without a license, are encouraged to report these individuals to the Division of Animal and Plant Health.
The individual must be involved in, or advertising work for a fee on ornamental/shade trees in a developed area that indicates one of the following:
- leaving the ground for pruning, trimming etc.,
- installing cabling or bracing,
- diagnosing and evaluating conditions of trees, and
- felling or taking down trees.
How to file an arborist complaint
- First verify that the individual does not have an arborist license by checking the list of licensed arborists or by contacting the division at (207)287-3891 and that the individual is engaged in work or advertising work for which they must be licensed.
Acceptable terms for advertising non-licensed arborist work:
- Pruning, pest management, planting & fertilizing, stump grinding, chipping, bucket truck, house lots and wood lots cleared
Unacceptable terms for advertising non-licensed arborist work:
- Tree removal, tree work, climbing service, vista & view clearing, complete tree care, cabling, limbing, difficult tree removal
- A person filing a complaint must submit the complaint in writing and provide their contact information (name, address and phone number), and should provide at least one of the following:
- Written documentation indicating that an individual is advertising arborist work. This might be in the form of a business card, paper advertisement or truck logo.
You need to include contact information, name and current mailing address of person named in the complaint*.
- Photographic documentation of persons engaged in arborist work. Pictures must show them actually doing the work without a supervising arborist in the area. Include the name and current mailing address of the person named in the complaint*.
- Written report of work being done on site. Include date, location, type of work being done, and contact information for the individual including name and current mailing address*.
- Copy of a signed contract indicating certain work was to be completed that required an arborist license. Also, a copy of a signed contract and evidence (photos) that the work was not completed. This would pertain to situations where either a licensed or non-licensed arborist is doing the work. If it is not on the contract include contact information including current mailing address of the person named in the complaint*
*This information is for contact purposes only.
Updated:
March 5, 2013
